The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world.

Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share. Last year, more than 140,000 participants submitted their bird observations online, creating the largest instantaneous snapshot of global bird populations ever recorded.

The 29th annual GBBC will be held Friday, February 13 to Monday, February 16, 2026. Please visit the official website at www.birdcount.org for more information and be sure to check out the latest educational and promotional resources.

“This count is so fun because anyone can take part —we all learn and watch birds together—whether you are an expert, novice, or feeder watcher. I like to invite new birders to join me and share the experience. Get involved, invite your friends, and see how your favorite spot stacks up.” -Gary Langham, Chief Scientist

On the program website participants can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting during and after the count. Be sure to check out the Explore a Region tool to get an idea of what you can expect to see in your area during the next GBBC.

Register to Participate at www.birdcount.org

For questions and comments, please contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or the National Audubon Society:

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Inside the US: (800) 843-2473
Outside the US: (607) 254-2473)
gbbc@cornell.edu

National Audubon Society
citizenscience@audubon.org

The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible, in part, by generous support from Wild Birds Unlimited.

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On Friday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom, explore the amazing variety of bird nests with this multimedia presentation from Saw Mill River Audubon. From the massive nests of eagles to walnut-sized hummingbird nests, from cavity-nesters inside trees to ground-nesters to birds that weave intricately woven baskets that hang from branches, birds are master builders! Find out why birds sing and what a bird box does and how to make any property more bird-friendly. Find what to do if you find a nest or young birds in need of help. 

Presenter Bio:

Anne Swaim is Executive Director of Saw Mill River Audubon, a local chapter of National Audubon based in Westchester County New York. She began as Staff Naturalist and sole employee of Saw Mill River Audubon in 1989. Anne has served as Executive Director since 2004 and works together with a board of directors, dozens of volunteers and four staff to maintain eight wildlife sanctuaries and present over 200 free public programs & field trips annually to connect people with nature. Anne has a B.S. in Biology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and M.Div. from Eastern University. She previously worked for Pennsylvania State Parks and the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Program. As part of her work for Saw Mill River Audubon, Anne has the great pleasure of living at Pruyn [pronounced Prine] Audubon Sanctuary in Chappaqua, a 92-acre property that protects the 42-acre Gedney Swamp and often features evening concerts by Barred Owls and Eastern Coyote.

Learn About Using Native Plants & Supporting Natural Habitats Through Landscaping

Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society is proud to present our second offering for this program to support landscape professionals and lawn service providers to expand their services to include ecosystem design practices and maintenance services.

This special 3-day program is available for landscaping professionals who work in Upstate NY and the surrounding regions.

The conference will take place at Hartwick College’s Pine Lake Environmental Campus, 1894 Charlotte Creek Road Oneonta, New York 13820 with a Zoom option for two of the three days.

This training is for:

• Landscape professionals
• Landscape architects
• Municipalities or parks employees
• Lawn service business owners
• Groundskeepers for education campuses or non-profit organizations
• Students in a landscape professional program

Why Attend?

Ecological landscaping makes it possible to create rich habitats in a variety of spaces that support birds, insects, and other wildlife. This knowledge also improves our ecosystem services and is highly sustainable. 

✅ Learn strategies to create sustainable habitats through landscaping, as well as how to advertise and leverage these highly-desired services to your clients.

✅ Earn continuing education credits.

✅ Get listed as an Endorsed Eco-scaper.

On Friday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m., join Abby Kress from the Montezuma Audubon Center for an engaging presentation via Zoom exploring the fascinating lives of birds and the challenges they face in a changing world. Learn how habitat loss, climate change, and human activity are reshaping migration patterns and bird populations – and discover how conservation efforts and community action are making a difference. This program will highlight stories from Montezuma’s wetlands and offer practical ways we can all help birds thrive. 

Join us for a Field Trip to Montezuma on Saturday, March 21st. Information and registration can be found HERE.

Presenter Bio:

Abby Kress is the Senior Associate for Community Conservation Programs at the Montezuma Audubon Center, where she leads educational initiatives and habitat stewardship projects across the Finger Lakes Region. With a background in environmental education and a passion for connecting people to nature, Abby works to inspire conservation action through hands-on experiences and storytelling. She is based in Brighton, NY, and enjoys birding, hiking, and exploring the natural world. 

Photos above: 

Left, Canada Geese at Montezuma. Photo credit: Sydney Walsh

Right, Montezuma Audubon Center staff Abby Kress and Cassidy Attanasio enjoy a great day of paddling and birding on the canal. Photo credit: Chris Lajewski/Montezuma Audubon Center

Join DOAS Board Director, Chris DeCesare, on Saturday, March 21 (rain date: March 28) for a birding field trip to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and the adjacent Wetlands Complex to view migratory waterfowl and shorebirds on their annual journey north to their breeding grounds. The area is comprised of 50,000 acres of wetlands and upland habitat north of Cayuga Lake and is a globally significant Important Bird Area because of the number of waterfowl that stop there during migration season. Past sightings include a variety of ducks, snow geese, swans, bald eagles, herons and sandhill cranes.

Above: Snow Geese, Photo by Rod Sutton

Participants can plan to meet at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters at 10:00 a.m. Those wishing to carpool can meet at the Dietz Street Parking Lot, across from the YMCA in Oneonta at 7:30 a.m.

The trip will begin at the refuge headquarters and then proceed by car to hotspots around the complex. There may be a small amount of walking on level ground; restrooms are available at the refuge headquarters. There is no charge for admission.

This is an all-day trip with an expected return to Oneonta around 5:00 p.m. Participants should plan on bringing a bag lunch, snacks, water, etc. For more details, contact Chris DeCesare at 607-244-5496 or chris.decesare444@gmail.com.

Learn more about Montezuma at our Program on March 20 HERE – Zoom Registration is Required.

About Trip Leader Chris DeCesare:

Like many on the board, I’ve had a lifelong love of nature and being outdoors. This led me to study wildlife biology in college and environmental education in graduate school. It was my ornithology professor who introduced me to the interesting world of birds from nesting bald eagles to the mating ritual of the woodcock and the songs of backyard birds. My favorite memory is sneaking up on woodcocks at dusk in a scrub field with my classmates and throwing ourselves to the ground as a bird twittered to earth from its sky dance.

My work experience includes being a seasonal park ranger at a US Fish and Wildlife Refuge, a seasonal Biological Technician for the US Forest Service and an environmental educator for the NYSDEC. The latter was my career for over 20 years. I currently manage a grant for afterschool program as the Program Director for the Creating Rural Opportunities Partnership (CROP) program.

I have been a part of DOAS as a camp director, a program leader for adults and families, and a Christmas Bird Counter. I’m excited to be on the board to help further the mission. My interests include paddling, hiking, gardening, and spending time with my dog Koa participating in sports such as Scentwork and Dock Diving. Though I love birds, I also have a fondness for insects…Shh!

Register for the Trip

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